Frontera RetÃ3rica is a student organization at UTEP focused on rhetoric and composition studies in the El Paso area. The organization's purpose is to promote rhetoric studies and raise awareness of intercultural rhetoric related to issues on the U.S.-Mexico border and local topics. Members must be UTEP students, staff, or faculty. Officers include a President, Vice Presidents of Internal Affairs, External Affairs, and Marketing, and positions like Secretary, Treasurer, and Archivist. Officers are elected annually and can be impeached for neglecting their duties. The constitution can be amended by a two-thirds member vote.

1. Constitution
ARTICLE I – NAME
The name of the organization shall be Frontera Retórica.
ARTICLE II – PURPOSE
Frontera Retórica will be an academic professional service group under the national group the
Rhetoric Society of America (RSA). The purpose of the organization will be to promote rhetoric and
composition studies as well as awareness of intercultural rhetoric in the El Paso-Juarez-Las Cruces
area. Some of the rhetorical situations the group will focus on include U.S.-Mexico border issues, as
well as local issues of literacy and technology.
ARTICLE III – ORGANIZATION
Section 1. MEMBERSHIP – Members must be alumni of or students, staff, and/or faculty at UTEP.
Frontera Retórica shall be composed of students in good standing who are interested in our
purpose. Membership shall be open to all who meet the qualifications without any discrimination.
Section 2. OFFICERS
OFFICERS SHALL CONSIST OF:
A. President
B. Vice President of Internal Affairs
C. Vice President of External Affairs
D. Vice President of Marketing
E. Secretary
F. Treasurer
G. Archivist
H. Webmaster
QUALIFICATIONS – To be eligible to hold any office a person must:
A. be currently enrolled at UTEP as a graduate student in the Rhetoric and Writing
Studies program
B. be a student in good standing with the University
C. not be on any disciplinary or scholastic probation
DUTIES
A. The President shall preside at all meetings when present, conduct business for
the organization as directed by the membership by votes in meetings, and be a
signatory on the organization’s bank account.
B. The Vice President of Internal Affairs shall organize and coordinate the
organization’s involvement in sponsored activities on campus. Additionally, he
or she shall assist in running the organization as directed by the president or the
advisors and shall conduct business meetings in the absence of the President.
C. The Vice President of External Affairs shall organize and coordinate all
organizational involvement in community and off-campus events as well as all
internal social activities for members of the organization.
D. The Vice President of Marketing shall be responsible for supervising and
coordinating all organizational fundraising efforts as well as all branding
initiatives.

2. E. The Secretary shall take minutes at all meetings and post them for the
membership online. The Secretary shall also handle correspondence as directed
by the president or advisors. Additionally, the Secretary shall archive and
maintain all organizational records.
F. The Treasurer shall maintain the bank account and report at regular meetings
on the balance and expenditures and income to the membership through a
written treasurer’s report to be filed for audit with the Secretary’s minutes each
month.
G. The Archivist shall produce all organizational materials as well as coordinate the
recording and documenting of organizational events.
H. The Webmaster shall manage and maintain all organizational electronic
presences.
ELECTIONS
A. Nominations for office shall take place each April 1.
B. Election of officers shall take place each May 1. Officers shall serve from May 1
to April 30 of the next year.
ARTICLE IV – VACANCIES AND IMPEACHMENT
A. In the event of a vacancy in office, group members shall be notified, nominations
solicited, and special elections shall be held if the annual elections are not scheduled to
take place within one month.
B. Special elections shall be held if there is a vacancy and annual elections are more than
one month away.
C. Elected officers may be subject to impeachment if they are not fulfilling their duties as
specified in the constitution.
D. A group member or officer who feels an officer is not fulfilling her duties should report
her concerns to the organization’s advisor, who will determine whether impeachment
should be considered.
E. If the advisor decides that the officer in question has not been fulfilling her duties, she
will inform the highest level officer who is not being considered for impeachment.
Notification will be sent to all members via email at least two weeks in advance of an
impeachment hearing.
F. To preserve anonymity, the advisor will present the allegations brought against the
officer in question, the officer will leave the room, and the members present will vote. A
two-thirds vote is required for impeachment to occur.
G. If the vote is in favor of impeachment, the officer will be dismissed and elections will be
held as described in section A.
ARTICLE V – CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
A. This constitution may be amended at any meeting by a two-thirds vote of the active
members present providing it is not in conflict with the University’s Handbook of
Operating procedures.
B. Bylaws may be adopted to fit the needs of the organization at any meeting by a two-
thirds vote of the active members present providing such bylaws conflict in no way with
the constitution and bylaws of University’s Handbook of Operating procedures.